– Four wins so far this season for the Porsche 99X Electric
– Formula E returns to China for the Shanghai premiere
– Porsche’s first race in the company’s second largest single market
Formula E revisits China: On 25 and 26 May, the electric world championship will hold a double-header in the economic metropolis of Shanghai for the first time. The inaugural Formula E race took place at the Beijing Olympic Park in 2014. Pascal Wehrlein and António Félix da Costa will compete for the TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team. As the leader in the manufacturers’ championship, Porsche celebrates its first Formula E event with the Porsche 99X Electric in China, the company’s second largest single market. With four victories so far this season, the Weissach-built electric car has achieved more wins than any other vehicle in the field – three for the works team and one for the Andretti Formula E customer team.
António Félix da Costa, from Portugal, travels to Shanghai with great momentum after winning the second race at Porsche’s home race in Berlin. The TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team claimed valuable championship points in the capital thanks to both drivers (55 in total), while Andretti Formula E took a pole position in Berlin.
Comments ahead of the Shanghai E-Prix
Florian Modlinger, Director Factory Motorsport Formula E: « Our victory in Berlin is exactly the motivation we need as we turn onto the home stretch of the season. But we’re not able to savour our home race win for long; Formula E’s current two-week rhythm doesn’t allow the teams to take a deep breath. In Shanghai, we compete on a very wide, permanent racetrack and we can expect the races to be similar to Berlin. Energy management will also play a key role in the double-header event there. We already underlined in Misano that we have a competitive package for such racetracks. Like Berlin, Porsche employees will visit us at the track in China. Our brand is very popular there. »
Pascal Wehrlein, Porsche works driver (#94): « I’ve never driven in Shanghai. I’m looking forward to getting to know the circuit and the city. That’s the great thing about Formula E – new venues are constantly being added to the calendar. We recently gave a strong team performance in Berlin, which António crowned with his victory. That’s what we’re keen to repeat in Shanghai. With only six races left this season, we can’t afford to leave any points behind. »
António Félix da Costa, Porsche works driver (#13): « After winning in Berlin, I was keen to jump straight back in the car the next day. Celebrating my first win of the season at Porsche’s home race was an indescribable feeling. We’ll now take the momentum of this victory with us to Shanghai. We want to offer Chinese fans some action-packed racing and get them inspired about all-electric motorsport. »
ABB FIA Formula E World Championship – standings after 10 of 16 races
Drivers’ classification : 1. Nick Cassidy (NZL), 140 points ; 2. Pascal Wehrlein (GER), 124 points… 4. Jake Dennis (GBR), 102 points… 10. António Félix da Costa (POR), 59 points… 13. Norman Nato (FRA), 24 points…
Teams’ classification : 1. Jaguar TCS Racing, 237 points ; 2. TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team, 183 points ; 5. Andretti Formula E, 126 points…
Manufacturers’ Trophy : 1. Porsche, 267 points ; 2. Jaguar, 266 points ; 3. Nissan, 202 points…
Yannick Bitzer,